5 minute read
Like Father, Like Daughter: Providing Hope for College
Goldman Barefield, known as Goldie to many, was born on November 20, 1933 in Farner, Tennessee, just minutes from the North Carolina line. Goldie was a jack of all trades, a farmer, gas station owner, a trader, as well as a member of the U.S. Army National Guard. The most important role he played in his life was that of a father to his daughters, whom he spoiled whenever he could. Goldie did not have the opportunity to go to college, but he aspired to give that chance to his children.
“I wanted to play tennis and be a cheerleader in college,” said Pamela Clark, one of Goldie Barefield’s daughters. “Tennessee Wesleyan kept me close to home and offered me both opportunities.”
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The legendary Coach Dwain Farmer offered Pamela a tennis scholarship and was influential in her experience at Tennessee Wesleyan. She was thrilled to receive this aid, along with an academic scholarship.
“My dad knew my goals and what it meant to me to have a college degree,” said Pamela. “He paid my tuition for the first two years.” Goldie did everything necessary to make Pamela’s higher education dreams a reality. In return, Pamela wanted to take the reins and prove that she was equally invested in her journey.
“I was stubborn like my dad,” Pamela laughed. “I wanted to pay my last two years, so I did. I was a secretary for the business department, taught a social dance class, and an aerobics class at night to make extra money. Every check Tennessee Wesleyan gave me, I flipped over, signed the back, and handed it back to them to apply the money to my account. I never cashed a check.”
Pamela credits her college experience and extensive work history at Tennessee Wesleyan to her current success as a State Farm Agent. She began her career with State Farm in Sweetwater, Tennessee at the mere age of 22.
Sadly, Pamela lost her father from Lewy Body Dementia in October 2011.
“He died such a cruel death,” Pamela said. “It breaks your heart to watch your strong father go through something as cruel as this disease.”
Goldie was very special to Pamela, and she strived to make him proud every day. In her grief, amid her overwhelming sorrow, a close friend and accountant, Mr. Bryan Jackson, suggested starting a scholarship in her father’s memory. Her love for her father and fondness for Tennessee Wesleyan created a special intersection.
Bryan helped Pamela set up the Goldman “Goldie” Barefield Scholarship with the help of Tennessee Wesleyan’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs. She wanted to encourage local students to attend Tennessee Wesleyan, while also encompassing her father’s sense of accountability; therefore, the scholarship is now available to seniors at Sweetwater High School through an application requiring students to write a short essay on why they believe they deserve this scholarship.
Pamela encourages her close friends to help extend the impact of the Goldman “Goldie” Barefield Scholarship by also giving to this legacy. These individuals make up a scholarship committee that meets annually to review the applications and award scholarship dollars. Committee members include Dr. Ken Kozawa, Mr. Paul Willson, Mr. and Mrs. Tom and Pam Korn, Ms. Lisa Janke, as well as Pamela Clark.
Pamela Clark playing tennis while at Tennessee Wesleyan.
Over the last seven years, the Goldman “Goldie” Barefield Scholarship has provided a total of $79,850 in scholarship dollars to 33 students.
To learn more about how you can honor a loved one or create a lasting legacy for your family, please contact TWU’s Office of Advancement and Alumni Affairs at (423) 746-5330.
Jasmine Maxwell, ‘20
“It meant so much to me to receive such a prestigious scholarship known around Tennessee Wesleyan, as well as in the Monroe County area. My mother and I worried about finances, so receiving the Goldman “Goldie” Barefield Scholarship made our worries subside by lowering the cost of my tuition. I was able to connect more with the campus and the community since my finances were taken care of.
Throughout my time at Wesleyan, I learned that giving back is such an amazing feeling. It motivates me to want to give back later in life to give other students the chance to go to Wesleyan and enjoy it as much as I did.”
Jasmine served as the president of the Criminal Justice Club, the secretary of the National Society of Leadership and Success, was a member of Hackberry and Oak Society, Student Ambassadors, Orientation Leader, Peer Mentor, and a TWU Cheerleader. She received her Bachelor of Science in Chemistry and Criminal Justice, with a Forensic Science emphasis in May 2020 and is currently attending the University of Alabama at Birmingham in pursuit of a Master of Forensic Science degree.
Kolbe Billingsley, ‘23
“The Goldman “Goldie” Barefield Scholarship helped me get all the supplies I needed to succeed during my freshman year, which led to me making the Dean’s List. It took away some of the financial stress off my parents.
It meant a lot to me to have received that scholarship. It kept me determined to focus and not let the resources I had received go to waste. It showed me that someone else cares about my education and believes that I can achieve my goals.”
Kolbe is a sophomore majoring in Business Management and Marketing through the Goodfriend School of Business. He is a member of the TWU basketball team, the National Society of Leadership and Success, and the Black Student Union.
